§ 22. Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister of Defence to state the policy of Her 1066 Majesty's Government about the export of arms to Western Germany.
§ Sir W. MoncktonIt is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to assist Western Germany, by the supply of military equipment and by other means, to raise, train and equip the forces which it has been agreed that she should contribute to the defence of the North Atlantic community.
§ Mr. ShinwellI am glad that the right hon. and learned Gentleman has come off the perch which he occupied when I last put the Question to him, and has admitted that we are either sending arms to Germany or contemplate doing so. Would he now reply to the question which I originally put? Is it intended that Germany should pay for the arms, and that we should resolve the problem of the cost of British occupation troops in Germany before we export arms to her?
§ Sir W. MoncktonThe reply to the first part of that supplementary question is that it is proposed that these supplies of arms should be upon a commercial basis and not by way of preferential treatment for Western Germany. As to the other part of the supplementary question, negotiations are still taking place, and I have nothing to add.